She Gives Too Much (GL) - Chapter 4

At today’s C University alumni reception, the composed and commanding Yan Tuo was the master of ceremonies. The articulate and charming Chen Xi, along with their mentor, were responsible for welcoming guests—a valuable training opportunity for them both.

The Student Union had already printed and hung welcome banners on the plane trees lining the main avenue, with large directional signs at every intersection to guide visitors.

As the first rays of dawn filtered through the dappled plane tree leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground, every department at C University was already bustling with preparations for the alumni reception.

At eight o’clock sharp, Chen Xi, dressed in a mid-length white floral dress, and Yan Tuo, in a fitted red cocktail dress, reported to their mentor’s office.

Chen Xi’s white dress conveyed a quiet elegance, her demeanor poised and graceful. Yan Tuo’s red dress exuded confidence and authority, her presence commanding and dignified.

For the sake of the event’s success, Yan Tuo had been forced to wake up early and spend nearly forty minutes getting ready with Chen Xi, a task she found utterly exhausting.

Chen Xi was curling her eyelashes. “Now you see how hard it is to be a fairy, right?”

Beauty always comes at a price.

Judging by her mentor’s reaction, all their hard work that morning hadn’t been in vain.

“Excellent, excellent! Just as expected of our department’s Red and White Roses—the teachers’ pride and joy!” The mentor’s chubby face beamed with delight.

Looking at her two most accomplished students, she couldn’t help but reminisce about her own slender figure before marriage.

“Ah, time is like a ton of pig feed,” she sighed, regretting her lost waistline before refocusing on the matter at hand.

She handed them newly printed activity schedules. “As veterans of this school and exemplary members of the Student Union, you can’t afford to be nervous in front of the alumni.”

“Today’s guests are all accomplished individuals with remarkable achievements in their respective fields. Each professor has recommended their top graduate students—you understand what that means, right?”

Chen Xi and her classmates were in their second year of graduate studies. Their major was already niche within the university, and with few regular classes, many students had already started looking for jobs early.

Today’s alumni homecoming was essentially a fundraising event disguised as a reunion, with the added benefit of giving companies first pick of the most promising graduates. The university provided them with talent, and they, in turn, offered job opportunities to their younger classmates—a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The Mentor valued Chen Xi and Yan Tuo above all others. “Show your best selves,” she urged, “and try to secure jobs before graduation next year.”

Chen Xi and Yan Tuo exchanged glances, each seeing encouragement in the other’s eyes.

As soon as the Mentor left, Yan Tuo turned to Chen Xi and said:

“To avoid disappointing the Mentor, you should strive to find a proper job, shine brightly in your role, and become a model worker. Spread positive energy across the nation and bring honor to your ancestors.”

Sitting on the nearby sofa, Yan Tuo flipped through the event schedule. “Then your celebrity dreams will finally come true.”

“Would that kind of celebrity dream land me a LV endorsement?”

“Probably not, but a model worker could definitely endorse snakeskin burlap sacks. Once you’re famous, you might even start a new fashion trend.”

Chen Xi rolled her eyes at Yan Tuo, crossing her legs as she leaned against the Mentor’s desk, studying the event schedule in her hand. “Want this trend for yourself?”

“No thanks. My dad’s waiting for me to graduate so I can come home and inherit the family business.”

“Family business or not, it’s all just a facade. Xiao Xiao’s the real deal, isn’t she?” Chen Xi clicked her tongue and shook her head. “It’s been a month since school started, and you still haven’t won her over? Are you even trying?”

“What do you know?” Yan Tuo retorted, glancing at Chen Xi with a proud, self-assured air. “We’re already a couple in the game.”

So impressive, she thought sarcastically.

Chen Xi let out an exaggerated “Wow!” “When your game characters get married and have kids, don’t forget to tell me. I’ll send a wedding gift.”

Yan Tuo caught the sarcasm in Chen Xi’s tone and shot her a sideways glare. “What does a single dog like you know about love?”

“I don’t,” Chen Xi replied, raising an eyebrow and looking down at Yan Tuo with a condescending air. “After all, I’m more of a hands-on type.”

“I should take a good look at this list. Maybe there are some senior alumni connected to the entertainment industry.”

After their banter, Chen Xi flipped through the guest list at the back of the program.

The list was printed on glossy, full-color paper, with each guest getting a large half-body or full-body photo on one page and a black-text bio on the facing page.

With the event not starting until nearly ten o’clock, Yan Tuo reviewed her hosting script.

She had just closed her eyes to mentally rehearse the expressions and tone she’d use when she heard Chen Xi gasp beside her.

Yan Tuo’s eyes snapped open. “What’s wrong?”

Chen Xi, who had been leaning against the desk, had straightened up, staring at the guest list with a strange expression.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Tuo asked again, making a move to get up and walk over to her.

Chen Xi swiftly closed the guest list and clutched it to her chest, her eyelashes fluttering nervously as she shook her head at Yan Tuo. “Nothing, just feeling a little envious seeing how young and accomplished everyone is.”

Yan Tuo eyed her skeptically, not believing a word. “What mischief have you been up to?”

If anyone should be envious, it was others envying Chen Xi.

“What kind of mischief could someone as beautiful, kind-hearted, and capable as me possibly get into? Seriously, nothing’s wrong. You should focus on memorizing your hosting script.”

Chen Xi brushed Yan Tuo off and lowered her head, reopening the page she had been holding open with her index finger.

On the left page, a guest poster featured a photo of a young, successful woman. She sat cross-legged on a red armchair, her cool, composed gaze meeting the camera with an air of undeniable authority.

Chen Xi felt a shiver run down her spine. Even just looking at the photo made her feel like she was being gripped by the nape of her neck, paralyzed.

Her eyes scanned to the right page, where two words followed the name: Li Zhi.

So it really is the Young Miss.

Chen Xi pressed her forehead against the slightly cool guest list, overwhelmed by embarrassment.

Especially since she would soon have to greet Li Zhi with her Mentor, and listen to her Mentor praise her as quiet, reserved, and demure in front of Li Zhi.

The words “calm,” “composed,” and “graceful” had absolutely nothing to do with what Chen Xi had done the past few days.

Just thinking about the Young Miss’s gaze made Chen Xi want to dig herself three stories underground and die of embarrassment on the spot.

Who could have imagined that her one-night stand would turn out to be a fellow alumna?

Chen Xi’s heart raced as she already started plotting her escape from Earth.

She glanced at Yan Tuo beside her, considering faking illness.

Just then, the Mentor returned from her errand.

“Let’s go,” she called to Chen Xi and Yan Tuo. “We need to prepare early. Some guests have already arrived.”

Chen Xi’s ankles felt like they were weighed down with lead balls as she shuffled toward the door.

Yan Tuo turned to look at Chen Xi, who was huddled behind her like a wilted little flower after a frost. Her brow furrowed with concern. “Are you really okay?”

Chen Xi shook her head, her gaze complex as she looked at Yan Tuo. “This is the worst PR disaster in history.”

“Yan Tuo, my dream of becoming a star might actually come true by endorsing snake-skin burlap sacks after all 😭.”

Yan Tuo didn’t understand.

She had to get to the host’s podium and didn’t have time to ask more questions, so she had to part ways with Chen Xi and the Mentor for now.

Seeing Chen Xi’s low spirits, the Mentor assumed she was nervous and tried to reassure her. “Why don’t we meet the younger alumni first? They’re closer to your age, so it won’t feel so formal.”

With a gentle knock on the door of a room, the professor called out, “Miss Li.”

Chen Xi stiffened like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her back arching as if she might explode.

Her eyes remained fixed on the closed door of the lounge, wishing the person inside hadn’t come today.

“Hello,” the assistant said, opening the door slightly and stepping aside. “Please come in.”

As the door swung open, Chen Xi looked up and saw a woman sitting on a dark gray armchair, facing away from the entrance.

The woman turned her head, and their eyes met.

It was the Young Miss.

Chen Xi’s heart pounded against her eardrums, her eyelashes fluttering wildly. She wanted nothing more than to vanish into thin air.

Li Zhiwei froze, her gaze fixed on Chen Xi, who stood behind the slightly plump woman in the distance. The hand holding her pen tightened.

Sister Li had mentioned she was a student at some university—so it was C University.

Oh, wow.

“Miss Li, is it?”

The mentor spoke first, extending a hand to Li Zhi. “Hello, I’m Chen Ying, the teacher in charge of today’s alumni association. Please let me know if you need anything.”

“Hello,” Li Zhi replied, standing up to shake hands and withdrawing her gaze from Chen Xi.

Chen Xi let out a sigh of relief. Despite the late September weather, she had worked herself into a nervous sweat.

Before she could catch her breath, her mentor spoke again.

“This is my student, Chen Xi,” the mentor said, smiling at Chen Xi with obvious prompting. “Chen Xi, this is Li Zhi, the CEO of Li Corporation and your senior. Come say hello and introduce yourself.”

Chen Xi desperately wanted to tell her mentor that she and Senior Li were already very well acquainted.

Under the combined scrutiny of her mentor and Li Zhi, Chen Xi forced a stiff smile and extended her hand.

“Hello, Senior Li. I’m Chen Xi.”

The Young Miss seemed to be in a foul mood, her eyes cold and distant as frost.

Chen Xi had never felt so nervous before. Her lips, coated in moisturizing orange-red lip gloss, felt dry, and her gaze remained fixed on her own fingertips, too heavy to lift.

The Young Miss wouldn’t be such a sore loser, would she?

It was a mutual, consensual, and enjoyable experience. When we meet again, we should pretend not to know each other to avoid awkwardness.

Why act like I dumped her?

Li Zhi lowered her gaze to the slender, pale hand extended before her.

Clean and elegant, it was the kind of hand that could be a hand model.

Come to think of it, this was the first time they’d formally introduced themselves.

That night, caught up in the alcohol and untying the bow, she hadn’t even asked for Chen Xi’s name.

Li Zhi hesitated, creating an awkward, tense silence.

Just as Chen Xi’s smile began to stiffen and she pursed her lips to withdraw her hand, Li Zhi suddenly grasped it.

Chen Xi’s eyes widened, and she looked up sharply.

Li Zhi met her gaze, a faint curve playing at the corner of her lips.

“I’m sorry, Chen Xi. Your hands are just too beautiful. I couldn’t resist admiring them for a moment longer.”

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